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Air India on Thursday inaugurated a four-times-weekly non-stop service between New Delhi and Rome, marking its return to the Italian capital after nearly six years and expanding its mainland Europe footprint to eight destinations.
Flight AI123 departed Delhi on March 25 and landed at Leonardo da Vinci–Fiumicino Airport later in the day, where it was received by officials from the Indian Embassy, airport authorities and airline staff. The launch makes Rome the airline’s second destination in Italy after Milan.
Senior dignitaries, including India’s Ambassador to Italy, participated in the inaugural ceremony, which featured traditional celebrations and marked the departure of the return flight to Delhi.
Nipun Aggarwal, Chief Commercial Officer of Air India, said demand between India and Europe continues to rise across leisure and business travel, underpinned by deeper cultural and economic ties. He added that the new route would reconnect two historic capitals while strengthening onward connectivity via Delhi to destinations across South Asia and Southeast Asia.
The airline will operate the route on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays using its Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner aircraft, configured with business and economy cabins. The schedule is designed to facilitate connections to cities including Bangkok, Colombo, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore and Hanoi.
Italy remains a key partner for India, with bilateral trade exceeding $14 billion in 2025, alongside strong cooperation in sectors such as engineering, automotive and fashion. The presence of a large Indian diaspora in Italy—estimated at over 200,000—has also supported sustained travel demand.
Airport operator Aeroporti di Roma said the new route would strengthen Rome’s position as a major Mediterranean hub with growing links to Asia.
Air India now operates non-stop services from India to eight mainland European cities, including Amsterdam, Copenhagen, Frankfurt, Paris, Vienna and Zurich.
British Airways
In a parallel development, British Airways announced additional flights from Delhi and Mumbai to London, citing strong travel demand and network adjustments linked to the evolving situation in the Middle East.
The airline will introduce a third daily service between Delhi and Heathrow Airport from April 7 to May 31, 2026, supplementing its existing twice-daily operations. A similar third daily frequency from Mumbai will be added between May 15 and May 31.
With the added capacity, British Airways will operate up to 63 weekly flights between India and the UK, offering more than 1,000 additional seats per week. The airline said the move is aimed at providing greater flexibility and connectivity for passengers travelling to the UK and onward destinations across its global network.
Neil Chernoff, Chief Planning and Strategy Officer at British Airways, said the carrier was reallocating capacity in response to shifting global conditions while continuing to prioritise high-demand markets such as India. He added that the airline would continue to adjust its network in line with travel demand during the summer season.
The twin developments underscore a broader recovery and expansion in international air travel, with airlines sharpening focus on high-growth corridors linking India with Europe and beyond.
